If my words did glow

-Posted by Isaac

Long live the late Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter.

(Would you hear my voice come through the music)

We lost him this week. But his words live on.

(Would you hold it near as it were your own?)

To honor Mr. Hunter, I’ve been on a Dead kick since Tuesday and it’s put me in sort of an easy, free mood.

I’m feeling young. I look around, I close my eyes and listen. The very air pulses with music. Life softens.

I can lose the niggling climate thoughts, the exasperating political B.S. of the moment. Five minutes of NPR this morning told me we’re deep into another scandal. Will they impeach him? (I don't know, don't really care.)

It’s all washed away.

The days have shortened, turned smooth and golden. The nights, still and starlit. I feel so tranquil. This is even without drugs, mind you.

The music of bees, the sunshine itself is a drug. Sometimes I pull into a bee yard, shut off the truck, and just listen.

(Let there be songs to fill the air)

My friends are true and steady. I check in everyday. They tell me the good news.

(Let it be known there is a fountain)

(That was not made by the hands of men)

What did I do to deserve this? This bee life?

Nothing.

Nothing, I think. Well, it’s complicated… I got lucky.

(Reach out your hand if your cup be empty)

Luck with direction maybe?

(If your cup is full, may it be again)

Somehow, some way I hit the lottery.

The big roulette wheel went spinning, red and black flying by… all the years, jobs, places and relationships… somehow my marble landed on green. And not only that, as it turns out, green was what I bet on!

Of the infinite paths, somehow I landed here. In this place, at this time, doing this work, sharing it all with these people. What are the chances?

(There is a road, no simple highway)

How did it happen?

It only came one day at a time. One decision at a time. You’d think I could piece it all back together. But when I try, I lose myself in the music.

(If I knew the way I would take you home)

Planet G

-Posted by Isaac

Welcome to Planet Goldenrod.

Where the bees find happiness.

Where the pollen traps are quickly filled.

Can a praying mantis also find happiness?

Where the floral world has exploded in orange.

With a little white here and there…

If it’s time for a pollen run, my Baby Girl, my Princess will usually insist on riding along. She’s a real nature lover. A bee-hugger. Not to mention a great helper and sampler.

Yesterday I told her all about Greta Thunberg and the school kids skipping a day to get out and save the planet.

Eden thought this sounded like a good idea. I suggested that perhaps she learn to read before becoming an Earth activist.

Let’s stick with Planet G for now.

Gretta of the Goldenrod…

We’ll stay in school for the time being.

This week Jayne asked me to collect some pollen run footage for social media.

Most pollen runs are in the mornings. I’m alone almost always. It’s cool, the bees are calm, and I can wear a t-shirt.

Not so after school.

It’s nice to have my Baby Girl along. She’s a helper, she’s a sampler, and she’s a photographer. But the thing is, in the heat of the afternoon, you almost have to suit up.

The air is filled with commotion. For the bees in mid-September, there most definitely is a Planet G.

R.I.P. Bee Man

-Posted by Isaac

As I was yammering about the Lithopolis Honeyfest last Thursday, Arnold Crabtree, the Honeyfest founder was living his last day.

Arnold was The Bee Man.

He was a local icon.

The cheerful face, the animated persona of beekeepers here in central Ohio.

It’s hard to write this, saying “he was.” Arnold is still so alive in my memories. I loved to talk bees with him, as did so many others. His passing put a shock and a damper on the initial hours of the festival, but the somber mood didn’t last long. As we shared stories, it sort of turned into a Bee Man celebration.

He got the ball rolling on this thing, and we were not about to let it drop. He had touched the lives of so many.

Other years Arnold and Darla had run a booth, selling his Bee Man Honey. Darla had to do most of the selling, as Arnold, the face of the festival, was busy with bee beards and bee evangelism.

This year we saw the opening of a small museum of relics and beekeeping antiques. Once again, Arnold was the visionary.

Jayne and I were fortunate enough to attend his funeral on Tuesday. There, we got to see old friends and share more Arnold stories… stories centered around bees of course.

Here is the first part of his obituary:

Arnold Crabtree, 77, went home to be with his Savior on September 5, 2019. He was born on May 20, 1942.
Arnold was a welder, burner at Buckeye Steel for 16 years and a ship fitter at Ingalls shipyard and Bethlehem Steel. He retired due to his health and became a self-employed entrepreneur, and later in life realizing his calling as a bee keeper. He affectionately became known as the "Bee Man." Arnold was the founder of the Lithopolis Honeyfest when his idea of a honey bee festival became a reality in 2007. Arnold remained active in the festival until his retirement in 2016. Arnold was also the founder of the Scioto Valley Beekeepers Association in Circleville, OH.

Yes, he founded our club! As a result of Arnold’s foresight, dozens of people gather, talk bees and network every month. For that, we made him an honorary “Life Member.”

And I think he’s the only one. The rest of us still cough up our annual $15 per family. (Man, some guys get all the breaks!)

It struck me that Arnold didn’t reach his iconic status until the last decade of his life. Over sixty years went by before he found his beehive enlightenment.

This fact, for some strange reason makes me feel really good. You never know when you’ll stumble into your wheelhouse.

I got to thinking about the lyrics of a Townes Van Zandt song.

Days, up and down they come
Like rain on a congadrum
Forget most, remember some
But don't turn none away
Everything is not enough
And nothin' is too much to bear
Where you been is good and gone
All you keep is the getting there

To Live is to Fly.

When you’re a Bee Man.

Honeyfest is coming!

-Posted by Isaac

Every year, the day before the Honeyfest, I do a rough set-up just to see if we have enough boxes and tables.

And every year, the day after the Honeyfest, I do a recap blog post. Last year was a washout.

Setting things up this beautiful evening, it occurred to me I should switch it up… why not plug the festival beforehand?

Unlike last year, the weather looks to be awesome. Sunshine, highs in the seventies.

So if you’ve somehow managed to free your schedule, even for a few hours, come on out to Lithopolis.

There’s so much to see and do!

All things bees…

And honey…

And wax…

Music, food, games, contests, art…

And more honey sampling than you’ve ever had in your life.

Come see us!

Perpetual Summer honey

-Posted by Isaac

Again, sorry to keep you waiting. I promised I’d share an extracting video, and the suspense must be killing you. I hate to use the too-busy-to-blog excuse once again, but I’m gonna. The summer honey has taken all my attention.

I’m smitten.

The supers are packed. What an awesome flow we’ve had! Reminiscent of 2016.

We’ve fallen into a rhythm. I spend the day pulling those loaded supers off the hives, Lafe spends the day taking all that honey out of the supers.

The waiting stack in the drying room tells us who’s moving faster.

It appears I’m winning.

But it’s easy to stay ahead when nearly every yard is caked out. Three, four, five supers high, 20-40 pounds of honey in every one!

We’re a week away from finishing up. What a year!

Apologies, this was pulled off of Instagram, put on youtube, and the framing cut the top off in places. But you didn’t need to see my head anyway.